CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-2186NVD status: Modified

SCADA Data Gateway: Use of Externally-Controlled Format String

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2023-2186 is a critical-severity use of externally-controlled format string vulnerability in SCADA Data Gateway from Triangle MicroWorks, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected SCADA Data Gateway versions: 5.01.03. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.71% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 54% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Check which version of SCADA Data Gateway you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Triangle MicroWorksSCADA Data Gateway5.01.03Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.18.2HighCNA (trellix.com)
CVSS 3.19.8CriticalNVD

Official description

On Triangle MicroWorks' SCADA Data Gateway version <= v5.01.03, an unauthenticated attacker can send a specially crafted broadcast message including format string characters to the SCADA Data Gateway to perform unrestricted memory reads.An unauthenticated user can use this format string vulnerability to repeatedly crash the GTWWebMonitor.exe process to DoS the Web Monitor. Furthermore, an authenticated user can leverage this vulnerability to leak memory from the GTWWebMonitor.exe process. This could be leveraged in an exploit chain to gain code execution.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Use of Externally-Controlled Format String

The product uses a function that accepts a format string as an argument, but the format string originates from an external source.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Choose a language that is not subject to this flaw.
  • Ensure that all format string functions are passed a static string which cannot be controlled by the user, and that the proper number of arguments are always sent to that function as well. If at all possible, use functions that do not support the %n operator in format strings.
  • Run compilers and linkers with high warning levels, since they may detect incorrect usage.

More Use of Externally-Controlled Format String vulnerabilities (CWE-134)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in SCADA Data Gateway

All SCADA Data Gateway vulnerabilities

Recent Use of Externally-Controlled Format String vulnerabilities

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